South Australia (Kangaroo Island)
South West
The most popular tour on Kangaroo Island incorporates a visit to Seal Bay and Flinders Chase National Park. It is necessary to allow at least 8 hours to fully savour all the natural beauty, and spend time observing all the wildlife that can be seen along the way.

With this in mind, it is recommended that these two exceptional sites be separated. Accordingly, Seal Bay has been incorporated in a separate tour of the South Coast.

Depart Kingscote along the Playford Highway to the Airport intersection, then follow the Birchmore Highway. Allow 1 hour to reach Vivonne Bay.

From Penneshaw and American River travel past the Kingscote Airport, turning left on to the Birchmore Highway. Allow 1 hour 10 minutes from American River; 1 hour 20 minutes from Penneshaw to reach Vivonne Bay.

The road is sealed to the Vivonne Bay intersection, with further road works in progress towards Flinders Chase.

Vivonne Bay

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Vivonne Bay can only be described as stunningly beautiful. The long curved sandy beach is a superb site for picnics, beach combing, or fishing expeditions. Experienced surfers enjoy the tremendous turquoise waters. Fishing from the jetty, beach, boats, or the Harriet River mouth is excellent. There is a picnic area with BBQ, camping and toilet facilities.

The beach can be reached by taking either of the roads off to the left just past the Vivonne Bay Store. Safe swimming areas are near the jetty and boat ramp, or the sandy bottomed Harriet River that enters the bay nearby. Elsewhere the bay has an undertow that must be respected.
On the other side of Harriet River, the Vivonne Bay western headland, Point Ellen, provides photographers with spectacular views of coastal scenery with the Southern Ocean sending its waves crashing on to the cliff face.

Vivonne Bay is the only safe harbour on the south coast of the Island and is the base for cray fishing and game fishing boats. Four world record tuna catches have been made off these shores.

After returning to the South Coast Road, proceed 25 km further west to Kelly Hill Conservation Park.

Kelly Hill Caves
This conservation park is well serviced with BBQ, picnic areas, shelters, and toilets.

It is an extensive area of undulating limestone ridge covered in dense mallee with stunted coastal heath along the coastline. Walking trails wind through the bushland to the coast and the historic farming settlement of Grassdale.

At Kelly Hill, the Park's most popular area, sinkholes and caverns lead to caves of ornate calcite formations, the largest cave being open for tours with National Parks & Wildlife guides.

Proceed a further 16 km west to Rocky River Homestead, headquarters for the Flinders Chase National Park.

Flinders Chase
Flinders Chase National Park is one of Australia's largest, covering 74,000 hectares, and is considered to be one of South Australia's most significant due to its natural state, wildlife, and lack of introduced preditors. Here you will see many of the animals and birds you have come to see. At Rocky River it is possible to view koalas in the nearby trees. If you have the time, and are suitably prepared, inquire at the Ranger's office about the various hikes available.

From Rocky River camping area, which has toilet and shower facilities, a road south leads to the spectacular coastline at Cape du Couedic.

Cape du Couedic
View the lighthouse, constructed in 1906 and considered to be the Island's finest structure. With the automation of the lighthouse, the nearby keeper's residences are now available for accommodation.

After parking your vehicle proceed down the walkway to Admirals Arch. The area is also home to a colony of New Zealand Fur Seals.

On return to your vehicle, proceed 4 km east of Cape du Couedic to Remarkable Rocks, detouring to Weirs Cove. The old jetty ruins visually depict the isolation of the area in past times.

Remarkable Rocks
A cluster of huge, weather sculptured granite boulders perched on a granite dome that swoops 75 metres to the sea. It is recommended that you park your vehicle, and approach the Rocks along the new board walk.

Return to the Rocky River Headquarters. On leaving Flinders Chase, it is recommended that you turn left as you leave the main entrance, and take the Western Highway to the T-junction with the Playford Highway, then turning right. The sealed road will return you to the main Airport intersection, via Parndana.